Why Choose a House Plan with a Mudroom?

March 21, 2024

Tim Hampton

Sometimes, it really is the little things that make a house a home. When choosing the right house plan for your future, most people focus on the big ideas or design elements, but the simple spaces usually make the biggest difference. That’s why we’re going to focus on our collection of house plans with a Mud Room…

How would you define a “mud room?” Definitions may vary between families. A mud room for one family may function differently than a mud room for another. Depending on the number of children living in your home and their ages, you may want a mud room- or you may not necessarily need one

Why should I have a Mud Room?

Whether you are searching for a house plan or rethinking your current home, consider adding a mudroom or drop-off zone. Every home has a place where stuff gets stashed, coats are dropped, and supplies are hidden, and while this traditionally may have been in several areas of your home, there is a one-stop space in which to organize your life better. These helpful Mudrooms are usually tucked away inside an entryway, creating the perfect space for taking off and storing outdoor items before entering the main parts of the house.

Where and What does this Space look like?

Usually, near the front door or the garage, a mudroom offers a dedicated space:

For storing shoes, book bags, briefcases, etc.
To keep dirt and outdoor debris from entering the main home
For putting on and taking off shoes
To save money on shampooing carpets, cleaning floors, and heating the living room

The mudroom provides storage for your family while maintaining a sense of livability and tidiness in a home. In today’s hectic lifestyle, a mudroom creates a sense of peace and comfort by dedicating a space for handling all the “stuff” we accumulate and use in our daily lives without interfering with our tidy and comfortable living spaces.

If you live in a state that experiences winter, mudrooms are even more helpful because they contain the mess of wet winter clothes. Most mudrooms include floor-to-ceiling cabinets or lockers for the ultimate storage to contain those sloshy messes.

Originally, a mudroom was the entrance used by family members. It was located in the back of the home and used as a barrier between the outdoors and indoors. Farmers and children would come in from the fields and have a wash basin to clean themselves up and a place to remove their dirty clothes and shoes. When indoor plumbing became available, the mudroom went by the wayside as space was at a premium, and the new laundry room was installed towards the back of the home. If the mudroom is located off the garage, consider this an additional barrier to keeping your home clean and clutter-free.

What comes to mind when someone refers to a mud room within a house? Maybe one or most of the following descriptors:

It is a relatively dirty resting place for slushy shoes, wet coats, and rain boots.
A large room filled with laundry in various stages of being cleaned.
A center for organization — filled with small pieces of note paper, a giant all-inclusive calendar, a home phone, and many other necessary items for the daily functionality of family life

As you decide whether or not you need a mudroom, several important questions must be asked:

Will your house be built in a state with seasonal weather? If you plan to live in a state with all four seasons, a mudroom with lots of cubby holes, hooks, and storage space will be ideal for storing items such as coats, hats, boots, rain jackets, etc.
Do you require space between the entrance to your house (garage or otherwise) and the living spaces? Many families enjoy a room between the garage or entrance to their home and the living area. This minimizes the number of times floors need to be cleaned and allows space for family members to store muddy or dirty shoes before entering the house itself.
How much storage space will you need? A mudroom can be an important component of a house’s storage. If you prefer to store additional cold weather, sporting, or cleaning gear within a common area, a mudroom can be a great place to locate these types of items easily.

As you gauge the idea of a mudroom in your house plan, get better insight with our collection of 4,100+ house plans with the mud room feature.

Tim Hampton

Tim is the Director of E-Commerce at America’s Best House Plans, helping guide the company’s digital strategy and online experience. He works cross-functionally to improve site performance, optimization, and growth, ensuring customers can confidently find, customize, and purchase the right house plan. Thoughtful and customer-focused, Tim supports ongoing innovation across the digital platform.